Roof structure.



No. 718.044. PATBNTBD JAN. 6.1903. H. AIKBN. l Roof STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1902.

NO MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTBD JAN. 6, 1903.`

J No. 718,044.

H. AIKEN. ROOE` STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

mv'EN-ron No. 718,044. PATENTBD JAN'. 6, 1903. H. AIKBN.

. RGOBSTRUGTURE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1002.

No MODEL. 44 SHBETSAHBBT s.

WITNESSES INVENTOR Ham No. 718,044. PATBNTED JAN. 6, 1903.

H. Amm. ROOF STRUCTURE..

Al-"PLICATIONV FILED SEPT. 5, 1902.

no Mon 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

HENRY AIKEN, OF PITTSBURG,.PENNSYLVANIA.

RooF STRUCTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,044, dated January 6, 1903.

Application led September 5, 1902. SerialNo. 122,191. (No model.)

To all whom. t may 0077106771.:

Be it known that I, HENRY AIKEN, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Roof Structure, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l shows in vertical longitudinal section, partly in side elevation, a roof structure embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side View showing the manner in which the-light is diffused in the building. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line III III of Fig. l. Fig. 4. is a vertical longitudinal section of a modified construction. Fig. 5 is a vertical section, on alarger scale, on the line V V of Fig. 6, showing a part of the upper portion of the roof in side elevation and the chord and purlins of the lower portion of the roof. Fig. 6 is a vertical crosssection of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view on the line VII VII of Fig. S. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line VIII VIII of Fig. 7.

In large manufacturing plants it has been the general custom to construct a series of buildings separated from each other in order to provide the necessary light and ventilation; but such buildings are expensive to construct, they occupy much room, and the keeping of them in repair and the cleaning of the windows is a large item of expense.

.l The purpose of my invention is to provide a construction enabling buildings to be built of large size, so that a manufacturing plant may, if desired, be included under a single roof and the difficulties above noted avoided.

Instead of constructing the building with a iiat roof or with a roof having angular projections and valleys, as heretofore, the first of such constructions being necessarily limited in size and the second being objectionable not only for this reason, but also because it favors the lodgment of snow and slush, I employ a series of elevated transverse trusses and form the roof with a parallel series of alternate surfaces at dierent levels supported by said trusses, the upper portions being preferably supported by the upper chords and the lower' portions by the lower chords. I thus afford between the elevated portions of the roof intermediate spaces for the admission of light into the building.

In the drawings, 2 2 are roof-trusses, which extend in parallel direction to each other transversely across the building and may be of any desired length or any desired number, according to the size of the building. The roof, as above stated, is made with alternate surfaces at different levels, the upper surfaces 3 3 being supported by the upper chords of the trusses 2 and the lower alternate surfaces fl 4 being supported by the lower chords of the trusses. 5 6 are the pnrlins, which eX- tend between the chords of the adjacent trusses alternately at the upper 'and lower levels. This construction affords between each elevated' portion of the roof an intermediate space 7 for the admission of light or air through windows 8 in the sides of the elevated portions. 9 9 are longitudinal trusses which may be used for providing supports for cranes, and 10 l0 are the columns.

The roof-surfaces are pitched, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, for the self-drainage of water.

The building thus constructed can be made of any desired length and width. The trusses impart to it great strength and stability. The roof-surface is reduced to a minimum, and the cost is relatively very low.

As shown in Fig. l, I may provide the sides of the building with windows 1l; but whether so provided or not the light is admitted through the upper Windows 8 in the most effective manner and is didused through the building evenly and without casting shadows. This I illustrate by dotted lines at the left of Fig. 2. The upper windows 8 are easily accessible both from the inside and from the outside of the building, and no valleys are present for the collection of snow and dirt.

The shading in Fig. l above the windows ll indicates the siding of the building.

In Figs. l and 2 I show each alternate pair of trusses 2 as constituting an elevated roofsection, and in Fig. 4 I show a modification in which the elevated sections spanthree of the trusses and alternate with intermediate lower sections. i

I claiml. A roof structure having a series of trusses parallel with each other, and alternate roof- IOO surfaces at differentlevels extending between the trusses and affording intermediate spaces for the admission of light; substantially as described.

2. Aroof structure havingaseries of trusses parallel with each other, and alternate roofsurfaces at different levels extending between the trusses and affording intermediate spaces for the admission of light, said roof-surfaces being pitched, substantially as described.

l3. A roof structure having a series of parallel trusses and alternate roof-surfaces at different levels extending between the trusses and affording intermediate spaces for the admission of light, said roof-surfaces being supported by the upper and lower chords of the trusses respectively; substantially as described.

4. A roof structure having'a series of ver-l tical trusses parallel with each other, and alternate roofsurfaces at different levels ex- Witnesses:

JOHN MILLER, H. M. CORWIN. 

